Sheridan, Audrey B; Johnson, Elijah J; Vallat-Michel, Armelle Jeannine; Glauser, Gaëtan; Harris, Jeffrey W; Neumann, Peter; Straub, Lars (2023). Thiamethoxam soil contaminations reduce fertility of soil-dwelling beetles, Aethina tumida. Chemosphere, 339, p. 139648. Elsevier Science 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139648
|
Text
1-s2.0-S004565352301915X-main.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY). Download (2MB) | Preview |
There in increasing evidence for recent global insect declines. This is of major concern as insects play a critical role in ecosystem functionality and human food security. Even though environmental pollutants are known to reduce insect fertility, their potential effects on insect fitness remain poorly understood - especially for soil-dwelling species. Here, we show that fertility of soil-dwelling beetles, Aethina tumida, is reduced, on average, by half due to field-realistic neonicotinoid soil contaminations. In the laboratory, pupating beetles were exposed via soil to concentrations of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam that reflect global pollution of agricultural and natural habitats. Emerged adult phenotypes and reproduction were measured, and even the lowest concentration reported from natural habitats reduced subsequent reproduction by 50%. The data are most likely a conservative estimate as the beetles were only exposed during pupation. Since the tested concentrations reflect ubiquitous soil pollution, the data reveal a plausible mechanism for ongoing insect declines. An immediate reduction in environmental pollutants is urgently required if our aim is to mitigate the prevailing loss of species biodiversity.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Institute of Bee Health |
UniBE Contributor: |
Neumann, Peter (B), Straub, Lars |
Subjects: |
500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology) 600 Technology > 630 Agriculture |
ISSN: |
0045-6535 |
Publisher: |
Elsevier Science |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Pubmed Import |
Date Deposited: |
03 Aug 2023 07:25 |
Last Modified: |
24 Aug 2023 00:16 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139648 |
PubMed ID: |
37506888 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Biodiversity Neonicotinoids Reproduction Soil pollution Sublethal effects |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/185121 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/185121 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit item |